Operational Excellence Engineer

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc; Kinston (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. in Kinston, NC seeks an Operational Excellence Engineer to drive lean initiatives, plan and execute process projects, and deliver measurable improvements.

You will develop dashboards, lead cross-functional teams, and collaborate with digital stakeholders to enhance data visibility and reporting efficiency. The role requires a Bachelor's in Engineering, 3+ years in medical devices, and Six Sigma/Lean certifications are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related field
• Minimum 3 years Medical Device industry experience preferred
• Six Sigma Experience preferred
• Lean Certification preferred
• Must have good interpersonal/leadership skills and be able to interface with all departments and team member levels
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• Excellent computer skills including SAP, MS Office applications, Mini-tab and other statistical software programs
• Able to be aware of all relevant SOPs per Company policy
• Ability to work independently while collaborating across functions
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement lean deployment & structured continuous Improvements e.g.: Kaizen, VSM, 5S, SMED, monitor to track progress and ensure sustainability of results.
• Provide technical advice and analytical support for site-level projects and solutions through facilitation of workshops using Lean and Six sigma methodologies.
• Support Lean Daily Management System as requested by site management.
• Develop and maintain dashboards (Power BI / Excel/LDMS) to track KPIs and operational performance, to analyze and identify improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with Automation, Digital & Technology stakeholders to implement digitalization, including data visibility enhancement and reporting efficiency.
• Promote Lean culture and continuous improvement mindset within operational teams.
• Support and lead cross-functional teams in cost saving activities, root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
• Verify and validate new lean process concepts and measure post-implementation results (Eg: Cell manufacturing).
• Support completion of lean maturity strategic plan for the site.
• Other tasks assigned by the manager.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

SAP

MS Office

Mini-tab

Job description

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Title: Operational Excellence Engineer

Requisition ID: 75631

Date: Aug 31, 2026

Location: Kinston, NC, US, 28504

Description

At West, we’re a dedicated team that is connected by a purpose to improve patient lives that has been at the center of our Company for more than a century. Our story began when Herman O. West solved the problem of supplying penicillin in mass quantities to the US Government during World War 2. Through our work to deliver thousands of life‑saving and life‑enhancing injectable medicines to millions of patients daily, West’s indelible mark on the healthcare industry has just begun. A name started our story. How will yours help write our future?

There’s no better place to join an inclusive community of professionals with opportunities for lifelong learning, growth and development. Supported by benefit programs, we empower the physical, mental, emotional and financial health of our team members and their families.

We believe in giving back to help those in need in the communities where we live and work. And are equally committed to creating a healthier environment and planet through our sustainability efforts.

Job Summary

In this role you will coordinate achieving goals and objectives through the use of lean techniques by planning, scheduling, and executing process projects. You will communicate project status, define and shape planning efforts, including critical goal and objective development that identifies and improves critical processes necessary to achieve annual targets, including waste reduction to drive technical and operational improvement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan and implement lean deployment & structured continuous Improvements e.g.: Kaizen, VSM, 5S, SMED), monitor to track progress and ensure sustainability of results.
• Provide technical advice and analytical support for site-level projects and solutions through facilitation of workshops using Lean and Six sigma methodologies.
• Support Lean Daily Management System as requested by site management.
• Develop and maintain dashboards (Power BI / Excel/LDMS) to track KPIs and operational performance, to analyze and identify improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with Automation, Digital & Technology stakeholders to implement digitalization, including data visibility enhancement and reporting efficiency.
• Promote Lean culture and continuous improvement mindset within operational teams.
• Support and lead cross-functional teams in cost saving activities, root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
• Verify and validate new lean process concepts and measure post-implementation results (Eg: Cell manufacturing).
• Support completion of lean maturity strategic plan for the site.
• Other tasks assigned by the manager.

#LI-TH1

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related field requried.

Work Experience

• Minimum 3 years Medical Device industry experience preferred.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must have good interpersonal/leadership skills and be able to interface with all departments and team member levels.
• Must have excellent organizational, interpersonal and problem-solving skills and be able to interface with employees in all levels of the organization.
• Excellent computer skills required, including SAP, all MS Office applications, Mini-tab and other statistical software programs.
• Able to be aware of all relevant SOPs as per Company policy as they are related to the position covered by this Job Description.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across functions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

License and Certifications

• Six Sigma Experience preferred.
• Lean Certification preferred.

Travel Requirements

5%: Up to 13 business days per year

Physical Requirements

Sedentary-Exerting up to 10lbs/4kgs of force occasionally, and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.

West is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. If you have a special need that requires accommodation in orderto apply to West, please send an email to [e-mail] . Where permitted by law, an offer of employment with West Pharmaceutical Services, or any of its subsidiary or affiliate companies, is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of background screening.